1985 Volume 46 Issue 2 Pages 157-164
In order to determine the indications for modified radical mastectomy, 65 patients with primary breast cancers who underwent radical mastectomies or extended radical mastectomies were studied. The authors determined the size and depth of the tumors, metastasis to lymph nodes, and stage microscopically and investigated the indication for modified radical mastectomy. Initially, cases with metastasis to Rotter's lymph nodes, subculavicular lymph nodes and internal mammary lymph nodes were excluded from the indications for modified radical mastectomy. From the viewpoint of lymph node metastasis, it was concluded that the indication for modified radical mastectomies was confined to T1n1α (axillary lymph node involvement less than 3) when the tumor was located laterally, and Tis when it was located medially. However, when it was examined from the viewpoint of the depth of the tumor, it was found that 12% of the patients had infiltration to the pectoralis major muscle, and 14% had infiltration to the retromammary space. It was revealed that even in the case of T1n0 (no lymph node involvement), the infiltration of the cancer reached very close to the pectoral fascia. Therefore, it was concluded that the indication for modified radical mastectomy must be limited to Tis.
